Power management system for dispensers
View Patent ↗A power management system for a dispenser that includes a passive infrared radiation sensor arranged along the dispenser and configured to detect infrared radiation emitted by one or more users within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone of the dispenser. When the passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone, the dispenser is placed in a low power state with the passive infrared sensor remaining connected to a power source and a controller, a dispensing mechanism, and/or the proximity sensor being disconnected from the power source. Other aspects also are described.
1. A dispenser, comprising:
a feed roller located configured to engage and feed a length of a sheet material;
a motor coupled to the feed roller;
at least one detector;
a controller in communication with the motor and the at least one detector;
a power source; and
a power management system connected to the power source and comprising at least one passive infrared radiation sensor configured to detect infrared radiation emitted within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone of the dispenser;
wherein the power management system is operable to turn on power to the controller when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor captures infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone, and turn off power to the controller when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone; and
wherein in response to a signal from the at least one detector to initiate dispensing of the sheet material, the controller activates the motor to rotate the feed roller to feed the length of the sheet material.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector includes a sensor configured to detect a presence of a user, a sensor configured to detect removal of the sheet material from the dispenser, a paper detection sensor, a cutting mechanism detector, or a combination thereof.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the power management system further comprises a switch between the power source and the controller and connected to the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor, wherein the switch is operable to turn on power to the controller and turn off power to the controller.
4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the power management system further comprises a passive infrared radiation sensor controller in communication with the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor, the passive infrared radiation sensor controller being configured to connect the power source with the controller and communicate with the controller to initiate a start-up sequence of the controller in response to a signal from the passive infrared radiation sensor indicating the capture of infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone.
5. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the power management system further comprises a passive infrared radiation sensor controller configured to detect one or more low level signals output by the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor and initiate a shutdown sequence of the controller.
6. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser consumes less than about 100 μA when the controller is disconnected from the power source by the power management system.
7. A dispensing system, comprising:
a network;
a plurality of dispensers;
wherein at least one dispenser of the plurality of dispensers is configured to receive information from remaining ones of the plurality of dispensers, and communicate the information received from therefrom to the network;
wherein each of the dispensers comprises:
a controller configured to initiate and control one or more operations thereof;
a power source; and
a power management system in communication with the controller and the power source, and comprising at least one passive infrared radiation sensor configured to capture infrared radiation within a prescribed detection range, area;
wherein the power management system for each dispenser is operable to disconnect the controller thereof from the power source when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone; and
wherein the power management system for each dispenser is operable to connect the controller thereof to the power source when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor captures infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone.
8. The dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein one or more of the plurality of dispensers includes a sheet material dispenser and one or more of the plurality of dispensers includes a liquid dispenser.
9. The dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the controller of each dispenser is configured to detect an error condition, a low power condition, a low source condition, or a combination thereof, and transmit one or more alerts or notifications to the at least one dispenser; wherein the at least one dispenser is configured to transmit the one or more alerts or notifications to the network.
10. The dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one dispenser includes a long range transmitter/receiver that facilitates communication between the at least one dispenser and the network.
11. The dispensing system of claim 7 , wherein the controllers of at least some of the dispensers of the plurality of dispensers are configured to communicate with passive or active tracking devices carried by persons within a facility or a room of the facility and record tracking device information based on signals transmitted to or received from the passive or active tracking devices.
12. A dispenser system, comprising:
a plurality of dispensers positioned at selected locations throughout a facility;
wherein the dispensers each include:
a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a prescribed amount of a liquid or a sheet material;
a controller in communication with the dispensing mechanism and configured to control operation of the dispensing mechanism to dispense the prescribed amount of the liquid or sheet material;
a power source; and
a power management system connected to the power source and comprising at least one passive infrared radiation sensor configured to detect infrared radiation emitted within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone of the dispenser;
wherein the power management system is operable to turn on power to the controller when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor captures infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone, and turn off power to the controller when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone; and
wherein the controller of each dispenser is further configured to generate and store dispenser information relating to use of the dispenser, activation of the dispenser, low power, low supply, error condition, or combinations thereof.
13. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein each dispenser further includes at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of a user, a sensor configured to detect removal of the sheet material from the dispenser, a paper detection sensor, proximity sensor, a cutting mechanism detector, personnel tracking sensor, or combinations thereof.
14. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein the controllers of at least some of the dispensers of the plurality of dispensers are configured to communicate with passive or active tracking devices carried by persons within the facility and record tracking device information based on signals transmitted to or received from the passive or active tracking devices.
15. The dispenser system of claim 14 , further comprising a network; wherein the dispensers are in communication with the network for transmission of the dispenser information to the network; wherein the dispenser information communicated to the network by each of the dispensers includes the recorded tracking device information; and wherein the recorded tracking device information is adapted to enable tracking of movements of the persons carrying the passive or active tracking devices in about the facility, activation of the dispensers, use of the dispensers, or combinations thereof.
16. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein the power management system further comprises a passive infrared radiation sensor controller configured to detect one or more low level signals output by the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor and initiate a shutdown sequence of the controller.
17. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein the power management system further comprises a passive infrared radiation sensor controller in communication with the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor, the passive infrared radiation sensor controller being configured to connect the power source with the controller and communicate with the controller to initiate a start-up sequence of the controller in response to a signal from the passive infrared radiation sensor indicating a capture of infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone.
18. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein each dispenser consumes less than about 100 μA when the controller of the dispenser is disconnected from the power source by the power management system.
19. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor is configured to capture infrared radiation within a generally conical detection area comprising a selected detection angle.
20. The dispenser system of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of dispensers includes a sheet material dispenser and one or more of the plurality of dispensers includes a liquid dispenser.